Looking at the music of Dutch rock band Focus, started in the late sixties by Thijs van Leer (b /31/03/48) with Jan Akkerman (b 24/12/46). Van Leer still performs and records under the name today (official site here). Akkerman's site here.

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Showing posts with label Aya-yuppie-hippie-yee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Aya-yuppie-hippie-yee. Show all posts

20240330

Sound effects


A sound effect (or audio effect) is an artificially created or enhanced sound, or sound process used to emphasise artistic or other content of films and music or other media. Here we are thinking mainly of a sound recorded and presented to make a specific storytelling or creative point. Such effects are found on some few Focus tracks.
1. Elspeth of Nottingham. The sounds of birds and cows can be heard towards the end of the track and this is the first example of such a thing on a Focus recording.
2. Ship of memories. This track closes with wind and seagull sounds.
3. Red sky at night. This track begins and ends with the sound of a wind machine that appears to go on throughout the track.
4. Blizu Tébe. Seagulls are again heard both at the beginning and the end.
5. Flower shower. This strange track includes the sound of a bathroom shower.
6. Aya-yuppie-hippie-hee. At the beginning of this track van Leer blows a clay bird whistle.
7. Nature is our friend. The sound of ducks in the water and then various birds in a wood are heard throughout this track.
8. Let us wander. This track has a similar but different set of nature sounds near water and in woods.

20200927

Track 142 Aya-yuppie-hippie-yee GO

Archive number: 142
Title: Aya-yuppie-hippie-yee GO
Main Album: Golden Oldies
Track number: 7
Genre: Progressive Rock Instrumental
Studio: WedgeView Studios, Verlaat, The Netherlands
Length: 5:30
Composer: Thijs van Leer
Musicians: Thijs van Leer - Piano, Hammond organ, Flute, vocals, Menno Gootjes - Guitars, Bobby Jacobs - Bass, Pierre van der Linden - Drums
Producer: Bobby Jacobs
Engineer: Budy Mokoginta and Bram Boll
Label: Focus Music Ltd
Date of recording/release: 2014 CD also produced in vinyl format
Notes: Straightforward re-recording bt with some nice new bass, scat and flute parts

20111203

Track by track 119 Aya-yuppie-hippie-hee

Archive number: 119
Title: Aya-yuppie-hippie-hee
Main Album: Focus 9 (New Skin)
Track number: 7
Genre: Progressive Rock Instrumental
Studio: Fieldwork Studios, Schoten, Belgium
Length: 05:15
Composer: Bobby Jacobs and Thijs van Leer
Musicians: Thijs van Leer – Hammond organ, flute, voice, bird whistle; Niels van der Steenhoven – Guitars; Bobby Jacobs – Bass; Pierre van der Linden – Drums
Producer: Bobby Jacobs and Thijs van Leer
Engineer: Han Nuijten
Label: Red Bullet
Date of recording/release: Summer 2006
Alternative version: None
Notes: A traditional clay bird whistle is heard at the beginning of this track which typically alternates between first a yearning theme on guitar backed by the band (00:00-00:29) and a contrasting rock theme introduced the first time by drums and consisting mainly of a four note riff from the guitar backed firstly by harmonics and organ with some great drumming from van der Linden (00:30-01:16). When the high soaring guitar returns at 01:15-17 it leads into a twofold repetition of the title – Aya Yuppie Hippie Hee – the vocals having an effect on them (01:18-01:26). We then slip back into the rock theme with the second guitar wailing much more this time (01:27-02:10) before a repeated “Aya Yuppie” section (02:11-02:22) and the rock theme again (02:23-02:44). There is then a break down into a quieter and slower guitar section (02:45-02:54) that gives way to a three note riff (02:55, 56) followed by a jazzy flute-led part (02:57-03:29), van Leer breaking out vocally at 03:14 and other points, ending with some glossolalic scat. At 03:30 we begin on an increasingly wild guitar-led lead up to first the rock and then the yearning themes which come in at 04:14-04:35 then 04:36-04:59 (listen out for the bird whistle), the whole closing on one more brief rendition of the rock theme with a sudden, decisive and unified stop at 05:12 (the reverb lasting just a few seconds more).